Kaiser Permanente Receives Highest Possible Rating for Medicare Plan in Mid-Atlantic Region
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Awarded Kaiser Permanente its Highest Rating of Five Stars for Quality and Service
ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today that the Kaiser Permanente Medicare plan in the Mid-Atlantic region earned five stars, the highest overall rating for quality and service. The Mid-Atlantic region elevated its 4.5-star rating for 2012 to 5-stars for 2013.
"This 5 star rating is a testament to the superior quality and convenience that our members experience," says Bernadette Loftus, MD, associate executive director for The Permanente Medical Group.
Each year through the Medicare Star Quality Ratings system, CMS rates Medicare health plans (both parts C and D) on a scale of one to five stars, with five stars representing the highest quality. The overall scores are based on more than 50 care and service quality measures across five categories, including staying healthy, managing chronic conditions, member satisfaction, customer service, and pharmacy services.
The announcement comes on the heels of the 'National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2012-2013,' which named Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States among the top 15 Commercial and Medicare health plans nationwide. In the national Commercial category, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States jumped 18 spots to number 15 out of 474 plans. In the Medicare category, Kaiser Permanente ranked 12th out of 395 plans nationwide. The health care provider continues to bring its high quality care to members throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, with two new multi-specialty facilities opening next year.
Six of eleven 5-star Medicare plans nationwide are Kaiser Permanente plans (parts C and D) for 2013. Last year, four Kaiser Permanente Medicare 2012 plans received 5-star ratings – California, the Northwest, Colorado, and Hawaii. This year, both Kaiser Permanente's Mid-Atlantic States and Ohio regions were added to the 5-star list.
"We are proud to earn the highest ratings for quality because it reflects Kaiser Permanente's commitment to achieving the best health outcomes for our members," said Jed Weissberg, MD, senior vice president, Hospitals, Quality and Care Delivery Excellence, Kaiser Permanente. "We offer the tools and services necessary to help them maintain total health. Our members have the ability to make online appointments, get lab results electronically, access to their complete health records, and email their personal physician directly and securely."
Kaiser Permanente has participated in the Medicare program since its inception in 1965, and has a long history of providing high-quality care and service to its members.
In addition to receiving high-quality care and service, 5-star excellence means that Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in a 5-star plan from December 8, 2012, to November 30, 2013, without having to wait until the next annual enrollment period.
Medicare beneficiaries can learn more about the Medicare Star Quality Ratings and Kaiser Permanente's Medicare plans by visiting kp.org/medicarestars or medicare.gov, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Plan performance summary star ratings are assessed each year and may change from one year to the next. Kaiser Permanente California includes its Northern and Southern California regions. Kaiser Permanente Northwest includes Oregon and Washington. Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States includes Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 9 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/newscenter.
SOURCE Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
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